Salem considers changes to ordinances

By ADAM SWIFTUnion Leader correspondent

SALEM — As selectmen and town officials take a closer look at town codes and regulations in anticipation of posting them to the town’s website, they have come across a number of them that have not been updated or actively enforced for years.

Among those is one that charges a fee for taxi cab companies to operate in town. Members of the board and Town Manager Keith Hickey said they will be taking a closer look at the ordinance to see if it is one they want to keep on the books and enforce.

“This hasn’t been revised since 1973,” said Hickey. “The fees are $25 for the first vehicle and $10 for each additional vehicle. My understanding is that we have not charged for taxi cabs in Salem since 1974.”

Selectman Stephen Campbell asked Hickey if the town should be looking to charge fees for taxi cabs that are registered in Salem.

“The ordinance certainly allows us to do that,” said Hickey.

Hickey said he would like to keep the ordinance on the books for now and do some more research on the subject, including determining how many companies there are that register taxis or other vehicles for hire in the town.

Campbell said one of his concerns about charging a nominal fee for vehicles is that companies might register their vehicles in a neighboring town to avoid the fee.

In addition to discussing the taxi fees, selectmen agreed to recommend striking an ordinance from the books that sets a curfew of 8 p.m. for anyone under the age of 18. The ordinance has not been enforced for decades.